JP4425813B2 - Paper post-processing apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus that conveys a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying apparatus or a printer apparatus and performs a folding process , and an image forming system .

A paper post-processing device called a finisher that accepts image-formed recording paper (paper) discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a printer and performs a folding process on a shape designated by a user has become widespread. ing.
In such a sheet post-processing apparatus, the sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus are once stacked on a predetermined tray, and the sheets are aligned using fence members provided on both sides of the sheet, and then a designated folding process is performed. It has a configuration to be applied.
For this reason, the positional accuracy in the folding process is greatly influenced by the accuracy of paper alignment by the fence member, that is, the accuracy of paper position correction.

Conventionally, techniques for improving the accuracy of paper position correction in a paper post-processing apparatus have been proposed in the following patent documents.
JP 2000-219418 A

Patent Document 1 proposes a paper post-processing device that can be applied to an inexpensive system, has a stable release property and stackability of paper bundles released after stapling processing, and can handle various paper sizes. Yes.
Specifically, when an activation signal is received from the image forming apparatus and the operation is started, according to the received size signal, the jogger fence and the staple fence provided in the apparatus are respectively discharged from the end surface with the central sheet discharged. Move to a position separated by a certain distance (10 mm).
Next, the jogger fence moves by 20 mm in the direction of the staple fence, and performs a sheet shifting operation to align the sheets.
In this way, by performing the sheet aligning operation by operating only one jogger fence, the jogger fence can be driven with a smaller operation load than in the past.
Thereby, the drive mechanism of a jogger fence can be comprised at low cost.

However, in the paper post-processing apparatus that corrects the position of the paper using the jogger fence used in Patent Document 1 described above, the paper aligning operation is performed by operating only the jogger fence on one side as shown in FIG. The paper transport center differs depending on the size.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the position of the paper is corrected by moving the movable jogger fence 25 with respect to the fixed reference jogger fence 26. For this reason, the conveyance center of the sheet conveyed in the discharge direction is different for each sheet width size.

For this reason, when performing a folding process that requires a plurality of folding processes, there is a possibility that the sheet cannot be appropriately handled during the rotation process (rotation operation) of the sheet when forming the second and subsequent folds (folding portions).
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a sheet post-processing apparatus and an image forming system that can appropriately cope with a sheet rotation operation during sheet position correction.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the sheet is disposed so as to be connectable to the image forming apparatus, and has a function of performing end face folding on the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus based on an instruction from the image forming apparatus. a first folding means you, a first conveying means for conveying the sheet ejected from said first folding means, provided in said first folding means, during transport by the first transporting means, Using the detection means for detecting the width of the paper before and after the paper conveyance direction, and two alignment plates that can be moved back and forth according to the detection result of the detection means, the paper conveyed by the first conveyance means On the other hand, a position correcting unit that performs position correction in the front-rear direction in the transport direction, and a second sheet that transports the sheet whose position is corrected by the position correcting unit in a direction orthogonal to the direction ejected from the first folding unit. conveying means, said second conveying means The conveyed sheet, and a second folding means for performing a folding process, wherein the position correction means, whether the first folding means by an instruction signal input to the image forming apparatus has performed the folding end face And a paper folding controller that controls the two aligning plates that can move forward and backward based on the judgment, and the paper folding controller performs the first correction when the paper position is corrected. When the first folding means performs the end face folding on the paper, the two aligning plates are controlled to move back and forth a plurality of times, and when the first folding means does not perform the end face folding on the paper, The object is achieved by performing position correction by controlling the two aligning plates to advance and retract once .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the end surface is a leading end side in the transport direction of a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus, and the two aligning plates are , One alignment plate is disposed at each position on the front side in the conveyance direction of the sheet conveyed by the first conveyance unit, and the other alignment plate is disposed on the rear side in the conveyance direction of the sheet, and the position correction unit includes the position correction unit, When the first folding means performs end-face folding on the leading end side, first, the rear end side in the paper transport direction is abutted against the rear aligning plate, and then the two aligning plates It is characterized by advancing and retreating .

According to a third aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by providing an image forming system including the paper post-processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect and an image forming apparatus .

According to the present invention, by controlling the operation area of the detected aligned plate width in the conveying direction before and after the paper sheet by detecting means, such as folding the end surface is made, in one of the sides is extremely short even going on paper without causing unnecessary operation can be performed appropriately paper rotation.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sheet post-processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment.
On the left side of the sheet post-processing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus such as a copying apparatus or a printer (not shown) is arranged. Sheets on which images have been formed are sequentially conveyed from the image forming apparatus in the direction of arrow A.
As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet post-processing apparatus 10 includes a first folding unit 11, a second folding unit 12, and a sheet direction changing unit 13.
The first folding unit 11 includes a paper front end face folding unit and a folding processing unit 40, and performs a process of folding the paper discharged from the image forming apparatus in the first direction.
The second folding unit 12 is a device that performs a process of folding the paper that has been subjected to the folding process in the first folding unit 11 in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.
The sheet direction changing unit 13 is a device that performs a direction changing process in a right angle direction and a sheet posture correcting process on the sheet discharged from the first folding unit 11.
A sheet rotating mechanism and a paper discharge tray (not shown) are provided downstream of the second folding unit 12.

The first folding unit 11 is a device that folds the leading end portion (end surface) of an image-formed sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus.
When paper folding is performed on the recorded paper, the paper is conveyed from the discharge roll to the first folding unit 11 and sent to the folding processing unit 40.
After the end surface of the front end of the paper is bent in the folding processing unit 40, the paper is conveyed to the paper direction changing unit 13. Then, after the paper direction changing process and the position correcting process are performed in the paper direction changing unit 13, the folding process is performed in the second folding unit 12. Further, the sheet is folded to a predetermined size by the second folding unit 12 and then stacked on a stacker (not shown).

FIG. 2 is a top view of the folding processing unit 40 in the first folding unit 11 according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of folding rollers 56 are disposed in the folding processing unit 40 so as to oppose left and right. The folding roller 56 includes a driving roller and a pressure roller.
The sheet is configured to be folded by reciprocating between the pair of rollers.
In the vicinity of the outside of the folding roller 56, a folding detection sensor 50 is provided that can move depending on whether or not the sheet end face is folded.
Further, a fold detection home position sensor 54 for detecting a standby position of the fold detection sensor 50 is disposed in the vicinity of the outside of the folding roller 56.
The folding detection sensor 50 detects a state in which the sheet is nipped (pinched) between the roller pair.

The fold detection sensor 50 is mounted below the rack portion 51. By moving the fold detection sensor motor 52, the fold detection sensor 50 is engaged with the fold detection sensor motor gear 53 and can be moved depending on whether or not the end face is folded.
When the fold detection sensor 50 is located at the center, the light shielding plate 55 of the rack portion 51 shields the fold detection home position sensor 54 at the standby position of the fold detection sensor 50. Thereby, the folding detection home position sensor 54 is configured to send an ON signal to detect the standby position.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the first folding unit 11 is provided with a folding width detection sensor 41 that detects the folding width of the paper on the downstream side in the paper transport direction.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a procedure of processing operations in the sheet direction changing unit 13 of the sheet post-processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment to be described later.
Here, the configuration of the sheet direction changing unit 13 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.
As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet direction changing unit 13 includes a sheet conveying device 14, a jogger fence 15, and a jogger fence 16.
As shown in FIG. 3, the discharged paper 30 conveyed to the paper direction changing unit 13 is subjected to position correction (positioning) processing by the jogger fence 15 and the jogger fence 16 and then conveyed to the second folding unit 12. It is configured.
The position correction (positioning) process of the discharged paper 30 is performed by moving the jogger fence 15 and the jogger fence 16.

The paper direction changing unit 13 includes a jogger fence driving motor 17 for moving the jogger fence 15 and the jogger fence 16, that is, driving control, a pulley 18, a jogger fence home position sensor 19, and a jogger fence driving timing belt 20. Is provided.
The jogger fence drive motor 17 rotates the jogger fence drive timing belt 20 via the pulley 18, whereby the jogger fence 15 and the jogger fence 16 can be moved in the width direction of the discharged paper 30.
The jogger fence home position sensor 19 is a sensor that is disposed near the outside of the jogger fence 16 and detects the standby position of the jogger fence 16.

Although not shown, the image forming apparatus is provided with an operation unit and a main body control board. On the other hand, the paper post-processing apparatus 10 includes a paper folding controller.
Detection signals from the folding detection sensor 50, the folding detection home position sensor 54, the folding width detection sensor 41, and the like are input to the paper folding controller.
In addition, a control signal is transmitted from the paper folding controller to driving units such as the jogger fence driving motor 17 and the folding detection sensor motor 52.
In the operation unit in the image forming apparatus, the user selects whether to fold or not fold the sheet, and further performs an input operation to fold or not fold the end face when folding the sheet.

Also, designation of the presence or absence of the binding margin and designation of the paper size are input (selected) from the operation unit.
In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, information on the presence / absence of a binding margin, paper size information, and the like are acquired, and processing such as paper folding is performed based on the acquired information.
An input signal from the operation unit is transmitted to the main body control board, and further, the signal is transmitted to a paper folding controller configured in the paper post-processing apparatus 10. As a result, the paper post-processing apparatus 10 starts control of the paper folding operation.
Further, from the folding detection sensor 50, the folding detection home position sensor 54, the folding width detection sensor 41, and the paper folding controller, the jogger fence drive motor 17, the folding detection sensor motor 52, and the like are controlled by this paper folding controller.

Next, a sheet folding processing operation in the sheet post-processing apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the sheet folding processing operation in the sheet post-processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment.
First, the paper folding controller determines whether or not an end face folding signal has been input to the operation unit on the main body side via the main body control board (step 11).
When an end face folding signal is input to the operation unit on the main body side (step 11; Y), that is, when an end face folding instruction (selection) is given from the operation unit, the paper folding controller moves the folding width detection sensor 41 to the end face. It is moved to a predetermined position when folding is designated (step 12).
Note that the end face folding instruction indicates a folding process in the first folding unit 11.

The sheet post-processing apparatus 10 performs a process of folding the sheet discharged from the copying apparatus main body in the first direction in the first folding unit 11 that is folded in the first direction.
Then, the first folded paper 31 is discharged to the paper direction changing unit 13 where the paper direction is changed and the paper posture is corrected.
When the first folded paper 31 is discharged (conveyed) to the paper direction changing section 13, the folding width is detected by the ON-OFF signal of the folding width detection sensor 41 provided at the discharge port (step 13). .
The paper folding controller sets the operation widths of the jogger fence 15 and the jogger fence 16 based on the detected folding width (step 14).

Subsequently, as shown in (1) of FIG. 3B, the paper folding controller carries (conveys) the first folding processed paper 31 into the paper direction changing unit 13 (step 15).
The first folded paper 31 is pressed by a roller that is driven by the paper transport device 14 (shown in FIG. 1) provided in the paper direction changing section 13 (step 16).
Then, as shown in (2) of FIG. 3B, the paper folding controller once abuts the rear end of the first folding-finished paper 31 without end face folding against the jogger fence 15 (step 17). .

Then, folding the controller, as shown in (3) in FIG. 3 (b), both sides of the jogger fences 15 and 16 of first folding processed sheet 31 first folding width direction of the processed sheet 31 ( The posture of the first folded paper 31 is corrected by advancing and retreating (movement indicated by a two-dimensional arrow ) in the direction indicated by the line arrow (step 18).
When correcting the posture of the first folded paper 31 whose end is folded at the end,
The advancing / retreating operation (jogger operation) of the jogger fences 15 and 16 is performed a plurality of times.
This is because, in the process of step 17, even when the rear end of the paper that is not folded is once abutted against the jogger fence 15 on one side,
This is because there is a possibility that the posture correction of the first folded paper 31 cannot be properly performed in one jogger operation.

Then, the first folded paper 31 whose posture is corrected by the jogger fences 15 and 16 on both sides of the paper is discharged from the paper direction changing unit 13 as shown in (4) of FIG. Step 19).
The first folded paper 31 discharged from the paper direction changing unit 13 is conveyed to the second folding unit 12 as it is (step 20).
Then, the sheet post-processing device 10 performs a process of folding the first folding processed sheet 31 conveyed to the second folding unit 12 in the second direction, and ends the process.

On the other hand, when the end face folding signal is not input to the operation unit on the main body side (step 11; N), that is, when the end face folding instruction (selection) is not given from the operation unit, the sheet post-processing apparatus 10 receives from the copying apparatus main body. The discharged paper 30 is discharged to the paper direction changing unit 13 without being subjected to the folding process in the first folding unit 11.
When the discharged paper 30 is discharged (conveyed) to the paper direction changing section 13, the folding width is detected by the ON-OFF signal of the folding width detection sensor 41 provided at the discharge port (step 21).
The paper folding controller sets the operation widths of the jogger fence 15 and the jogger fence 16 based on the detected folding width (step 22).

Subsequently, as shown in (1) of FIG. 3A, the paper folding controller carries (conveys) the discharged paper 30 into the paper direction changing unit 13 (step 23).
Thereafter, the paper folding controller advances and retracts the jogger fences 15 and 16 on both sides of the first folded paper 31 in the width direction of the discharged paper 30 as shown in (2) of FIG. The posture of the discharged paper 30 is corrected (step 24).
When the folding process in the first folding unit 11 is not performed, the advancing / retreating operation (jogger operation) of the jogger fences 15 and 16 is performed only once. This is to prevent a decrease in productivity of the sheet post-processing apparatus 10.

Then, the discharged paper 30 whose posture is corrected by the jogger fences 15 and 16 on both sides of the paper is discharged from the paper direction changing section 13 as shown in (3) of FIG. 3A (step 19).
The discharged paper 30 discharged from the paper direction changing unit 13 is conveyed to the second folding unit 12 as it is (step 20).
Then, the sheet post-processing device 10 performs a process of folding the discharged sheet 30 conveyed to the second folding unit 12 in the second direction, and ends the process.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the width of the sheet is detected by the folding width detection sensor 41 and the operation width of the jogger fences 15 and 16 is controlled. Processing in the paper direction changing unit 13 can be performed.
Further, according to the present embodiment, the width of the conveyed paper is accurately detected (detected) by moving the position of the folding width detection sensor in accordance with the folding processing conditions such as the presence or absence of end face folding. be able to.

Further, the sheet post-processing apparatus 10 described above is configured to detect the width of the conveyed sheet using the folding width detection sensor 41 provided in the first folding unit 11, but the The width detection method is not limited to this. For example, the folding detection sensor 50 shown in FIG. 2 may also be used (shared), that is, the folding detection sensor 50 may be used to detect the width of the conveyed paper.
Since the position of the fold detection sensor 50 can be changed by the action of the fold detection sensor motor 52 and the fold detection sensor motor gear 53, when detecting the width of the sheet conveyed using the fold detection sensor 50, It is possible to easily detect the paper width of the discharged paper 30 or the first folded paper 31 accurately (appropriately).
Thus, by using the folding detection sensor 50 also as the folding width detection sensor 41 (shared), the configuration of the sheet post-processing apparatus 10 can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

It is the figure which showed schematic structure of the paper post-processing apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment. It is the figure which looked at the folding process part in the 1st folding part which concerns on this Embodiment from the top. It is a figure showing a procedure of processing operation in a paper direction changing unit of the paper post-processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a sheet folding processing operation in the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is the figure which showed the prior art example of the paper post-processing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Paper post-processing apparatus 11 1st folding part 12 2nd folding part 13 Paper direction change part 14 Paper conveying apparatus 15, 16 Jogger fence 17 Jogger fence drive motor 18 Pulley 19 Jogger fence home position sensor 20 Jogger fence drive timing belt 25 Movable jogger fence 26 Reference jogger fence 30 Discharged paper 31 First folded paper 40 Fold processing section 41 Fold width detection sensor 50 Fold detection sensor 51 Rack section 52 Fold detection sensor motor 53 Fold detection sensor motor gear 54 Fold detection home position Sensor 55 Light shielding plate 56 Folding roller

Claims (3)

Is arranged to be connectable to an image forming apparatus, the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus, the first folding means that having a function of performing folded end face based on an instruction from the image forming apparatus,
First conveying means for conveying the paper discharged from the first folding means;
A detecting means provided in the first folding means for detecting the width of the paper before and after the paper conveying direction at the time of conveyance by the first conveying means;
Position correcting means for correcting the position of the sheet conveyed by the first conveying means in the front-rear direction with respect to the sheet conveyed by the first conveying means, using two aligning plates capable of moving back and forth according to the detection result of the detecting means; ,
A second transport unit that transports the paper whose position has been corrected by the position correction unit in a direction perpendicular to the direction of discharge from the first folding unit;
Second folding means for performing a folding process on the paper conveyed by the second conveying means ;
With
The position correcting means includes
Determining whether or not the first folding means has performed end-face folding based on an instruction signal input to the image forming apparatus, and controlling the two aligning plates capable of moving forward and backward based on the determination; Equipped with a paper folding controller,
When the paper folding controller corrects the position of the paper,
When the first folding means performs end face folding on the sheet, the two aligning plates are controlled to move forward and backward a plurality of times, and
When the first folding means does not end-fold the sheet, the two aligning plates are controlled to advance and retract once.
A sheet post-processing apparatus characterized in that position correction is performed . The end surface is the leading end side in the transport direction of the paper on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus,
  The two aligning plates are arranged at respective positions on the front side in the transport direction of the sheet in which one align plate is transported by the first transport unit, and on the rear side in the transport direction of the sheet,
When the first folding unit performs end face folding toward the leading end side, the position correcting unit first abuts the rear end side in the paper transport direction against the rear aligning plate, and then The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two aligning plates are advanced and retracted. An image forming system comprising the sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 and an image forming apparatus.

Images